Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Alcatel (ALA) and France -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Andre Daedone who wrote (959)	11/3/1999 1:29:00 PM
From: Steve Fancy	Respond to of 3891

SBC Picks Suppliers For $6 Billion Broadband Network Dow Jones Online News, Wednesday, November 03, 1999 at 13:21 SAN ANTONIO -(Dow Jones)- SBC Communications Inc., the nation's largest regional telephone company, Wednesday selected the primary suppliers to help the company build its $6 billion next-generation broadband network. The suppliers include Advanced Fibre Communications, (AFCI), Lucent Technologies Inc. (LU), Alcatel S.A. (ALA), Newbridge Networks Corp. (NN), Nortel Networks Corp. (NT) and Siecor, a joint venture of Germany's Siemens AG and Corning Inc. (GLW). Specific financial terms of the deal weren't disclosed. However SBC said the suppliers will provide a range of state-of-the-art technologies that the company will use to develop the project, which is intended to allow high-speed delivery of data and voice communications. San Antonio-based SBC (SBC) first announced plans to develop its high-speed, digital subscriber line, or DSL, service, called Project Pronto, in October. At the time, the company said it planned to roll out the DSL services to 80% of households in its service region by 2003. The Baby Bell is trying to reposition itself as a high-tech broadband company, rather than an old-line telephone operator. The telecommunications company said the three-year initiative will accelerate convergence of voice and data networks into a packet-switched platform. The company expects the new network structure to add $1.5 billion in annual expense and capital savings by 2004. The new network will include fiber optics and neighborhood broadband gateways to extend the reach of DSL service. SBC, which plans to offer the service to 77 million customers within three years, said through Project Pronto it will overcome a 3.5-mile distance limitation to receive DSL by using advanced fiber optics and neighborhood broadband gateways to push DSL capabilities now housed in central offices closer to customers. In addition to the customers served in its flagship Southwestern Bell area, the company has added customers by acquiring Chicago-based Ameritech Corp., Nevada Bell, Pacific Bell and SNET in southern New England. Eventually, SBC intends to make broadband services available to all of its customers. Copyright (c) 1999 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.